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Business valuations
We offer expert valuation advice in transactions, regulatory and administrative matters, and matters subject to dispute – valuing businesses, shares and intangible assets in a wide range of industries.
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Capital markets
You need corporate finance specialists experienced in international capital markets on your side if you’re buying or selling financial securities.
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Complex and international services
Our experience of multi-jurisdictional insolvencies coupled with our international reputation allows us to deliver the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
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Corporate insolvency
Our corporate investigation and recovery teams can help you manage insolvency situations and facilitate the best outcome.
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Debt advisory
An optimal funding structure for your organisation presents unprecedented opportunities, but achieving this can be difficult without a trusted advisor.
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Expert witness
Our expert witnesses analyse, interpret, summarise and present complex financial and business-related issues which are understandable and properly supported.
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Financial models
A sound financial model will help you understand the impact of your decisions before you make them. Talk to us about our user-friendly models.
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Forensic and investigation services
We provide investigative accounting and litigation support services for commercial, matrimonial, criminal, business valuation and insurance disputes.
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Independent business review
Is your business viable? Will it remain viable in the future? A thorough independent business review can help your organisation answer these fundamental questions.
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IT forensics
Effective ESI analysis is integral to the success of your business. Our IT forensics experts have the technical expertise to identify, preserve and interrogate electronic data.
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Mergers and acquisitions
Grant Thornton provides strategic and execution support for mergers, acquisitions, sales and fundraising.
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Raising finance
Raising finance - funders value partners who can deliver a robust financial model, a sound business strategy and rigorous planning. We can guide you through the challenges that these transactions can pose and help you build a foundation for long term success once the deal is done.
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Relationship property services
Grant Thornton offers high quality independent advice on the many financial issues associated with relationship property from considering an individual financial issue to all aspects of a complex settlement.
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Restructuring and turnaround
Grant Thornton’s restructuring and turnaround service capabilities include cash flow, liquidity management and forecasting; crisis and interim management; financial advisory services to companies and parties in transition and distress
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Transaction advisory
Our depth of market knowledge will steer you through the transaction process. Grant Thornton’s dynamic teams offer range of financial, commercial and operational expertise.
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Virtual asset advisory
Helping you navigate the world of virtual currencies and decentralised financial systems.
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Corporate tax
Grant Thornton can identify tax issues, risks and opportunities in your organisation and implement strategies to improve your bottom line.
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Employment tax
Grant Thornton’s advisers can help you with PAYE (payroll tax), Kiwisaver, fringe benefits tax (FBT), student loans, global mobility services, international tax
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Global mobility services
Our team can help expatriates and their employers deal with tax and employment matters both in New Zealand and overseas. With the correct planning advice, employee allowances and benefits may be structured to avoid double taxation and achieve tax savings.
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GST
GST has the potential to become a minefield and can be expensive when it goes wrong. Our technical knowledge can help you minimise the negative impact of GST
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International tax
International tax rules are undergoing their biggest change in a generation. Tax authorities around the world are increasingly vigilant, especially when it comes to global operations.
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Research and Development
R&D tax incentives are often underused and misunderstood – is your business maximising opportunities for making claims?
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Tax compliance
Our advisers help clients manage the critical issue of compliance across accountancy regulations, corporation law and tax. We also offer business and wealth advisory services, which means we can provide a seamless and tax-effective offering to our clients.
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Tax governance
Mitigate tax risks and implement best practice governance that will stand up to IRD scrutiny and audits.
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Transfer pricing
Tax authorities are demanding transparency in international arrangements. We businesses comply with regulations and use transfer pricing as a strategic planning tool.
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Audit methodology
Our five step audit methodology offers a high quality service wherever you are in the world and includes planning, risk assessment, testing internal controls, substantive testing, and concluding and reporting
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Audit technology
We apply our audit methodology with an integrated set of software tools known as the Voyager suite. Our technology has been developed to produce quality audits that are effective and efficient.
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Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisers have the expertise to help you deal with the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
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Business architecture
Our business architects help businesses with disruptive conditions, business expansion and competitive challenges; the deployment of your strategy is critical to success.
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Cloud services
Leverage the cloud to keep your data safe, operate more efficiently, reduce costs and create a better experience for your employees and clients.
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Internal audit
Our internal audits deliver independent assurance over key controls within your riskiest processes, proving what works and what doesn’t and recommending improvements.
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IT advisory
Our hands on product experience, extensive functional knowledge and industry insights help clients solve complex IT and technology issues
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IT privacy and security
IT privacy and security should support your business strategy. Our pragmatic approach focuses on reducing cyber security risks specific to your organisation
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Payroll assurance
Our specialist payroll assurance team can conduct a review of your payroll system configuration and processes, and then help you and your team to implement any necessary recalculations.
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PCI DSS
Our information security specialists are approved Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) that have been qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council to independently assess merchants and service providers.
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Process improvement
As your organisation grows in size and complexity, processes that were once enabling often become cumbersome and inefficient. To maintain growth, your business must remain flexible, agile and profitable
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Procurement/supply chain
Procurement and supply chain inputs will often dominate your balance sheet and constantly evolve for organisations to remain competitive and meet changing customer requirements
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Project assurance
Major programmes and projects expose you to significant financial and reputational risk throughout their life cycle. Don’t let these risks become a reality.
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Risk management
We understand that growing companies need to establish robust internal controls, and use information technology to effectively mitigate risk.
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Robotic process automation (RPA)
RPA is emerging as the most sophisticated form of automation used to help businesses become more agile and remain competitive in the face of today’s ongoing digital disruption.
Budget 2014: Changes to bring paid parental leave up to scratch
It’s time for the Government to put a stake in the ground when it comes to paid parental leave, and the Budget is the perfect time to do this, especially with the election set for September 20.
The Labour Party has already taken the high ground on this with plans to extend paid parental leave of $488.17 per week from 14 weeks to 26 weeks, coupled with the introduction of a $60 a week ‘baby bonus’ to all parents who earn under $150,000 for the first year.
For parental leave to be extended, the first consideration needs to be: Who is going to pay for it? Under the present regulations, the Government pays. However, Labour has indicated they will tax the wealthy, which in turn will have an impact on business owners.
The Government’s books are certainly not in a good enough state at present to dramatically increase paid parental leave. But there is a way to satisfy both the Government and parents – by gradually introducing an increase in paid parental leave, perhaps over a period of three years, adding an extra month each year. Of course this should be on the condition that our fiscal position continues to improve. The Government has been working hard to bring the country back to surplus and needs to maintain this position.
Speaking from a mother’s perspective, six months maternity leave makes a lot more sense. Three months after the birth of my daughter, there was no way that I was ready to return to the workforce – it was not an appealing thought at all! Six months in, she was much more settled and I was more mentally prepared. I was more productive, less distracted, and didn’t have to use match sticks to hold my eyes open!
Some schools of thought believe increasing the period of paid parental leave may keep women out of the workforce for longer, and therefore interrupt business. While an increase to six months may mean some women, who would be relying on this payment, stay out of work three months longer, every woman who meets the eligibility criteria is already entitled to 12 months parental leave. And surely a parent returning to work when they are more focused and engaged is better for business than one returning earlier with little motivation.
For me, the debate is not about should we increase paid maternity leave, but more about by how much and when. According to the publication ‘Essential Mums’, New Zealand has one of the least generous paid parental leave provisions in the OECD, more akin to countries like China (98 days at 100 per cent of salary), India (12 weeks at 100 per cent of salary) Egypt (90 days at 100 per cent of salary) and Algeria (14 weeks at 100 per cent of salary). Not countries we normally sit alongside.
Across the Tasman, mothers in Australia receive 18 weeks at the federal minimum wage (around NZ$660 a week), and fathers or partners receive two weeks paid leave at the same rate. And they are moving to lift the 18 weeks to 26 weeks at full replacement wage up to a maximum annual salary of AUS$150,000, plus superannuation.
The Rolls Royce model in Denmark offers a full 52 weeks at 100 per cent of salary. Our Government needs to be looking closely at these models and find a way to replicate them. This is not an area we want to continue to lag behind in. Change is needed and soon – for the sake of mothers and the productivity of our businesses!
Further enquiries, please contact:
Stacey Davies
Grant Thornton New Zealand Partner, Privately Held Business
T +64 (0)9 308 2591
E stacey.davies@nz.gt.com